![]() The size and size distribution might be important in some cases, for example if penetration through a pore structure of a cellular membrane is required. The shape is more often spherical but cylindrical, plate-like and other shapes are possible. It can also be in the form of nano-vesicle surrounded by a membrane or a layer. It can be used as a convenient surface for molecular assembly, and may be composed of inorganic or polymeric materials. Nano-particle usually forms the core of nano-biomaterial. The approaches used in constructing nano-biomaterials are schematically presented below (see Figure 1). In addition, as optical detection techniques are wide spread in biological research, nanoparticles should either fluoresce or change their optical properties. Examples of biological coatings may include antibodies, biopolymers like collagen, or monolayers of small molecules that make the nanoparticles biocompatible. In order to interact with biological target, a biological or molecular coating or layer acting as a bioinorganic interface should be attached to the nanoparticle. ![]() However, size is just one of many characteristics of nanoparticles that itself is rarely sufficient if one is to use nanoparticles as biological tags. Separation and purification of biological molecules and cells Īs mentioned above, the fact that nanoparticles exist in the same size domain as proteins makes nanomaterials suitable for bio tagging or labelling. Tumour destruction via heating (hyperthermia) ![]() Nevertheless, this will not be discussed here and will be a subject of a separate article.Ī list of some of the applications of nanomaterials to biology or medicine is given below: Hybrid bionanomaterials can also be applied to build novel electronic, optoelectronics and memory devices (see for example ). The aim of this review is firstly to give reader a historic prospective of nanomaterial application to biology and medicine, secondly to try to overview the most recent developments in this field, and finally to discuss the hard road to commercialisation. Out of plethora of size-dependant physical properties available to someone who is interested in the practical side of nanomaterials, optical and magnetic effects are the most used for biological applications. Understanding of biological processes on the nanoscale level is a strong driving force behind development of nanotechnology. This simple size comparison gives an idea of using nanoparticles as very small probes that would allow us to spy at the cellular machinery without introducing too much interference. Even smaller are the proteins with a typical size of just 5 nm, which is comparable with the dimensions of smallest manmade nanoparticles. However, the cell parts are much smaller and are in the sub-micron size domain. Living organisms are built of cells that are typically 10 μm across. Now they have entered a commercial exploration period. A decade ago, nanoparticles were studied because of their size-dependent physical and chemical properties. The nanomaterials level is the most advanced at present, both in scientific knowledge and in commercial applications. ![]() It is expected that nanotechnology will be developed at several levels: materials, devices and systems. Nanotechnology is enabling technology that deals with nano-meter sized objects. ![]()
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